Liquid applicator



July 27, 1965 P. E. ROMOSER LIQUID APPLICATOR Filed Sept. 25, 1963 PA ULE. ROMOS'ER 1N VENTOR [Zia/lu- A T TOR/VF) United States Patent3,196,479 LIQUlD APILHZATGR Paul E. Rornoser, Windermere Qonrt, Wayne,Pa. Filed Sept. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 311,536 19 Claims. (Cl. -571) Thisinvention relates to liquid applicators and in particular to those whichemploy a fabric or bristled-type roller which receives the liquid from asource, becomes T saturated therewith, and transfers it to a surfacewhich the roller contacts.

The most common of such applicators is the household paint roller whichemploys a separate pan as the paint source. More sophisticatedapplicators comprise a roller and paint source supported on a commonmeans to provide a unitary device. Moreover, various types ofpaint-pumping means have been provided on some of these attachedsources. Whatever the manner be, however, for getting the paint onto theroller, i.e., separate orattached, pressurized or gravity feed source,the problem of excessive paint on the roller and its dripping therefrometernally plagues the user. Objects of the present invention, therefore,are: to provide a roller-type of paint applicator which does not allowoverloading of the roller and consequent dripping of paint therefromregardless of the roller shape; to provide such an applicator in a formwhich allows it to be readily adapted for rapid and easy attachment to avariety of paint sources; and to provide a basic non-drip design ofroller holder which may be selectively manufactured in a variety ofconfigurations to accommodate rollers of cylindrical, conical, barrel,or any other practical and useful shape.

These and other objects which will become apparent through the followingdisclosure have been achieved through the discovery that the paint canbe applied to a limited portion of the roller surface and containedthereon until the roller is caused to rotate. The particular structuralaspect of the present invention which renders the use of thiscontainment practical is a continuous ridge lightly contacting theroller surface and delimiting the portion thereof to which the paint isdirectly applied from the source. This contact of the ridge with theroller surface is sufficient to prevent any more than a minute amount ofpaint from leaking to other portions of the surface, but does notprevent easy rotation of the roller.

The composite embodiment of the present invention may be defined as afluid applicator comprising a body, means on said body rotatablysupporting a roller having a convex, pile-like surface, wall means onsaid body providing a feed chamber, portions of said wall means defininga continuous, rigid surface having two opposite portions of concaveconfiguration slidably engaging said convex, pile-like surface of saidroller at a substantially constant, predetermined distance thereinto,and connector means on said body communicating with said feed chamberand adapted to connect the same to a fluid source. The term pile-likesurface as applied to the roller connotes, in reference to the presentinvention, those roller surface materials of fabric, nap, bristle orpile construction, of animal, plant or synthetic origin which aregenerally used for applying such fluids as paints. This term alsoimplies the property of resiliency, that is, the tendency of such rollermaterials to return to :their original configuration after they havebeen bent, deformed, compressed or the like by the continuous ridge orsurface of the present roller holder.

The invention will become further clarified through the followingdescription, claims and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the applicator;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator of FIG. 1 taken alongline Z-2 thereof in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the applicator of FIG. 1 taken in the directionof arrow 3;

FIG. 4 is a side view with portions broken away of another form of theapplicator attached to a pressurized paint spray can;

FIG. 5 is a top view with portions broken away of the applicator of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a view looking toward the paint inlet of another form of theapplicator Withportions broken away;

FIG. 7 is a side view with portions broken away of the applicator ofFIG. 6 taken in the direction of arrow 7 and rotated counterclockwise90;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another form of connector for theapplicator; and

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of essentially the same applicator asin FIG. 1, except for a variation in the roller holder which employsonly one arm.

Referring to FlGS. 1-3 of the drawing, the applicator comprises a paintroller 10 and a roller holder 12. The roller may be of any conventionalstructure such as comprising a supporting core 14 of stiff cardboard,metal, or plastic, and fibrous mat or bristle material 16 securedthereto by insoluble adhesive or other suitable means. The core 14 ismounted by friction, adhesive, or other means on end pieces 18 and 20 ofany suitable material such as metal, plastic, or wood provided withbearing recesses 22 and 24, respectively.

The roller holder 12 comprises a body 26 of any suitable materialincluding metal, but preferably of plastic such as nylon or moldablehigh-density polypropylene, having a threaded connector 28 providing aninlet port 30 which opens into a chamber 32 defined by walls 34, 36, and38 of body 2s and the adjacent roller surface. These walls define acontinuous ridge 40' which contacts the roller and'delimits the amountof surface thereof to which paint is directly applied from a source. Thesource shown in FIG. 1 is a paint-filled, plastic squeeze bottle 42, butsuch is only representative of an almost infinite variety of usefulsources. The roller 10 is rotatably mounted upon shafts 44 and 46provided on arms 48 and 50 integrally formed with or attached by plasticwelding or the like to the holder body 26. The arms 48 and 50 areconveniently of resilient plastic material so that they may be flexedoutwardly from the roller ends to remove the shafts 44 and 46 from thebearings 22 and 24 of the roller for easy replacement of the roller.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the applicator comprises a hollow, taperedbody 52, also preferably of plastic, and having a rectangular, circular,or other convenient crosssectional shape secured at 54 to a connectingcap 56 by plastic welding or other suitable means. The resilient arms 58and 60 are integrally molded with or attached by plastic welding or thelike to the body 52 and provided with suitable bearing shafts as in thestructure of FIG. 1, to conveniently rotatably mount the roller 10. Theconnector 56 is in the form of a cap provided with an aperture 62through which the actuating button 64 of a pressurized aerosol-typepaint can 66 extends. This cap is provided with a substantially straightflange 68 which securely frictionally fits onto the upper portion 70 ofthe can.

In FIG. 4, the button 64 is shown in the depressed position and theorifice 72 thereof is aligned with the inlet 74 of chamber 75 in body52. A wall 76 extending upwardly from the bottom of the inlet end ofbody 52 assists I the roller surface and the delimitingridge.

ing recesses in the ends of the roller.

in preventing paint from paint overhead structures. I

draining back out of chamber. 75 when the spray can and'applicatorareemployed to holder as in FIG. 1 and as in FIG. 7 may be straight orcurved in ordervto conveniently reach the subject to In the operation oftheapplicator shownin FIGSl-E,

the paint, is supplied through orifice 30 and fills chamber;

32 to provide a steady source of paint to the delimited portion of theroller surface. .As the roller is rotated. the paint willbe carriedthereby underneath the ridge 40 to the surface to be painted; Similarly,in the opera.- tion of the applicator of FIGS. 4 and 5, the paint issprayed through theinlet 74 of body 52 into chamber 75 and onto thedelimited portion of the roller surface. The

outer end of body52 by lightly contacting the=roller defines the ridgewhich delimits the amount ofroller surface directly provided with paint.It is noted that in' each of these applicators the ridge portion of eachbody" which delimits the portion of the roller to which the paint isapplied, does not extendto the outermost edges of the roller.

ping off of the roller when the applicator is held in such a positionthat the roller is vertical. As the roller rotates,- however-, the Iouter portions of the roller gradu- 'ally pick up paint throughcapillaryaction'and contact with the already-painted surfaces andtherebythe full length of the roller is utilized without the normally Becauseof this the paint is prevented from dripbe painted. The connector 28 ofFIG. 1 isshown threaded onto the container 42, the connector 56 of FIG.4 is shown frictionally fitted onto the, container top, and

"in FIG. 8 a further variation 98 of a connector is shown to be tightlyfrictionally fitted over 'a'neck 109 of a'container 102 having beads 104onits outlet to assist in the frictional holding; 'It is apparent to oneskilled in the art that many variations in shapes andmeans forprovidingthe necessary friction for the connector may be employed depending uponthe particular container to which'the applicator is to be provided.

I roller 2 on the shaft. is esse'ntiallythefsame as that of 'FIG. 1andthe parts In theembodiment shown in FIG. 9,'the roller holder .10 6is providedwith OIIIYOHE arm 108 which is integrally molded with orotherwise fixed to shaft 110.

This shaft exten'ds completely through roller end 112 and, convenientlyextends part way; through end 114. A

Shoulder-116 abutsroller end 112 and screw 118labuts end 114- toproperly position and rotatably retain the The. operation of thisapplicator equivalent to those of FIG. 1', are similarly numbered. Thisform ofapplicator isespecially useful'for; painting shape convenient tothe paint source and operator.

attendant condition of excessive paint on the roller edge portions. r av V It is noted that the delimiting'ridge extends, into the along'theceiling line and the connector 28,may beof any While the invention hasbeendescribed with particular "emphasison the application of paints,'itis apparent that bristles or fibrous matof the roller only to the extentV necessary to prevent excessive pain-t leakage. In this way the rollercan still readily be rotated by contact, with the subject surface tocarry'sutficient paint thereto. The degree ofcontact of the delimitingridge with the roller may be varied by the applicatormanufacturer to.accord to the particular consistency, etc., of the material to beapplied. For example, where a highly viscous paint is to V be appliedrapidly to a horizontal surface, the delimiting ridge may even beslightly spacedfrom the roller bristles or fibrous mat. .Moreover, it isreadily apparent to one skilled in the art that theroller-supporting'armsmay be adjustably mounted on the holder body sothat; the

operator may conveniently move the arms'forwardly or rearwardly thereonto vary at willxthe spacing between The composition of the paint whichcan be applied by the disclosed applicators varieswidely-and in thestructure of FIGS. 1-3 canhave a very high pigment andresinconcentration.

has a determining effect upon the maximum pigment concentration andviscosity of the paint, and may be trations. Moreover, the paint sourcemay be adapted to supplyingemulsion (latex) type paints to theroller- Inthe applicator; of FIGS. 4 and 5, the 7 size of orifice 72 of thepressurized can actuator button other liquids such as adhesives andstencil fluids may readily be applied with they present applicator.Moreover, the shape and construction of the 'various parts of theapplicator may readily be varied within the spirit and scope of theinvention. 7 V I claim:

i 1. A holder fora rollerof a fluid applicatorwherein' the roller has aconvex, pile-like surface, said-holder comprising a body, wall means onsaid body providing a feed chamber, portionsof said wall means definingacontinuous, rigid surface having/two opposite portions of .concaveconfiguration, said continuousrigid surface slid- -ably enga'ging'thepile-like surface of the roller at a substantially -.constant,predetermined distance thereinto,

means on'said-body for rotatably supporting the roller such that aportion'of the'pile-like surface thereof at all times slidably'engagessaid continuous rigid surface, and connectormeans on said bodycommunicating withsaid feed chamber and adapted to connect the'same to afluid source. a

I adjusted by those skilled in the art to accommodate a ,wide range ofpaint consistencies and pigment concen- It is apparent thatthepaint-containing feature of the delimiting ridge allows the applicatorto be used .in' any .positionoverhead, horizontal, vertical,etc..without havingto worry about paint drip.

The applicator of FIGS. 6 and 7 is essentially of the same constructionand operation as that of FIGS.;1 3.

In this embodiment, however, the roller isprovided with .abarrel'orarcuate outer surface which more readily and effectively applies-paintto irregular surfaces such as the corrugated molding shown in FIG. 6.The body por-, tion 84 of the. roller holder is conveniently of acircular cross section for providing thdcontinu'ous delimiting ridge 86.In this constructionthe paint enterschamber 88 through inlet 90 andthence onto the roller surface. The arms 92 and 94 of the, holder areconveniently of the same resilient construction as those o'fFIGS. l-S-and also have bearing'shafts rotatablyv received. in the bear- Theparticular shape of the connector portion of the 2. A holder for a paintroller of a. paint applicator wherein'the roller has a convex, pile-likesurface, said holder comprising a body, wall means on said bodyproviding a feed chamber, portions of said wall means defining acontinuous,frigid surfacehaving two opposite ,portionsrof conca veconfiguration, said continuous rigid surface slidably' engaging'thepile-like surface of the roller at a substantially constant,predetermined distance thereinto, means on said body for rotatablysupporting the roller such that a portion of the pile-like surfacethereof at all times slidably engages said continuous, rigid oppositeportions of concave configuration, said continuous rigid surfaceslidably' engaging the pile-like surface of the roller'at asubstantially constant, predetermined distance thereinto, means onsaidbody for rotatably supporting the roller such that a portion of thepile-like surface thereof at all times slidably engages said continuousrigid surface, and connector ,means. onsaid body communicating with saidfeed chamber and adapted to connect the same to a fluid source.

4. A holder for a paint roller of a paint applicator wherein the rollerhas a convex, pile-like surface, said holder comprising a body, wallmeans on said body providing a feed chamber, outer, peripheral portionsof said wall means defining a continuous, rigid surface having twoopposite portions of concave configuration, said continuous rigidsurface slidably engaging the pile-like surface of the roller at asubstantially constant, predetermined distance thereinto, means on saidbody for rotatably supporting the roller such that a portion of thepilelike surface thereof at all times slidably engages said continuousrigid surface, and connector means on said body communicating with saidfeed chamber and adapted to connect the same to a paint source.

5. A fluid applicator comprising a body, means on said body rotatablysupporting a roller having a convex, pile-like surface, wall means onsaid body providing a feed chamber, portions of said wall means defininga continuous, rigid surface having two opposite portions of concaveconfiguration, said continuous rigid surface slidably engaging saidconvex, pile-like surface of said roller at a substantially constant,predetermined distance thereinto, and connector means on said bodycommunicating with said feed chamber and adapted to connect the same toa fluid source.

6. A fluid applicator comprising a body, means on said body removably,rotatably supporting a roller having a convex, pile-like surface, wallmeans on said body providing a feed chamber, portions of said wall meansdefining a continuous, rigid surface having two opposite portions ofconcave configuration, said continuous rigid surface slidably engagingsaid convex, pile-like surface of said roller at a substantiallyconstant, predetermined distance thereinto, and connector means on saidbody communicating with said feed chamber and adapted to connect thesame to a fluid source.

7. A fluid applicator comprising a body, means on said body removably,rotatably supporting a roller having a convex, pile-like surface, saidmeans comprising a pair of arms positioned at opposite portions of saidbody and being flexible in a direction substantially parallel to theaxis of said roller, each of said arms having mounting means cooperatingwith mounting means on the adjacent end of said roller to therebyprovide the removable, rotatable support for said roller, wall means onsaid body providing a feed chamber, portions of said wall means defininga continuous, rigid surface having two opposite portions of concaveconfiguration, said continuous rigid surface slidably engaging saidconvex, pile-like surface of said roller at a substantially constant,predetermined distance thereinto, and connector means on said bodycommunicating with said feed chamber and adapted to connect the same toa fluid source.

3. A paint applicator comprising a body, means on said body rotatablysupporting a paint roller having a convex, pile-like surface, wall meanson said body providing a feed chamber, portions of said wall meansdefining a continuous, rigid surface having two opposite portions ofconcave configuration, said continuous rigid surface slidably engagingsaid convex, pile-like surface of said roller at a substantiallyconstant, predetermined distance thereinto, and connector means on saidbody communicating with said feed chamber and adapted to connect thesame to a paint source.

9. A fluid applicator comprising a body, means on said body rotatablysupporting a roller having a convex, pile-like surface, wall means onsaid body providing a feed chamber, outer peripheral portions of saidwall means defining a continuous, rigid surface having two oppositeportions of concave configuration, said continuous rigid surfaceslidably engaging said convex, pile-like surface of said roller at asubstantially constant, predetermined distance thereinto, and connectormeans on said body communicating with said feed chamber and adapted toconnect the same to a fluid source.

10. A paint applicator comprising a body, means on said body, rotatablysupporting a paint roller having a convex pile-like surface, wall meanson said body providing a feed chamber, outer peripheral portions of saidwall means defining a continuous, rigid surface having two oppositeportions of concave configuration, said continuous rigid surfaceslidably engaging said convex, pilelike surface of said roller at asubstantially constant, predetermined distance thereinto, and connectormeans on said body communicating with said feed chamber and adapted toconnect the same to a paint source.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,654,107 10/53Magoon 15-575 3,028,868 4/62 Tandler 15571 X 3,070,824 1/63 Martin15-571 X 3,103,814 9/63 Borisof 15571 X 3,104,413 9/63 Nelson 15-571 X3,128,494 4/64 Hohmann 15573 3,138,814 6/64 Carrona 15--573 X CHARLES A.WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

1. A HOLDER FOR ROLLER OF A FLUID APPLICATOR WHEREIN THE ROLLER HASCONVEX, PILE-LIKE SURFACE, SAID HOLDER COMPRISING A BODY, WALL MEANS ONSAID BODY PROVIDING A FEED CHAMBER, PORTIONS OF SAID WALL MEANS DEFININGA CONTINUOUS, RIGID SURFACE HAVING TWO OPPOSITE PORTIONS OF CONCAVECONFIGURATION, SAID CONTINUOUS RIGID SURFACE SLIDABLY ENGAGING THEPILE-LIKE SURFACE OF THE ROLLER AT A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT,PREDETERMINED DISTANCE THEREINTO, MEANS ON SAID BODY FOR ROTATABLYSUPPORTING THE ROLLER SUCH THAT A PORTION OF THE PILE-LIKE SURFACETHEREOF AT ALL TIMES SLIDABLY ENGAGES SAID CONTINUOUS RIGID SURFACE, ANDCONNECTOR MEANS ON SAID BODY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FEED CHAMBER ANDADAPTED TO CONNECT THE SAME TO A FLUID SOURCE.